Elephas maximus indicus

(Cuvier, 1798)

Vernacular names
English : Asian elephant
French : Eléphant d’Asie

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Proboscidea
Family : Elephantidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adult males can reach 6.4 m in length, 3.4 m in shoulder height and weight up to 6 tons. Two pronounced humps on top of forehead, small folded ears, rounded back. Only males have tusks. Coloration brown-grey.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs from India to south China, south to Thailand. The species is also found on Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Mostly found in forests, also in woodlands, shrublands and grasslands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species has significantly declined because of poaching and reduction of habitat. The species’ range is highly fragmented today. Sumatran subspecies seems to be the most threatened at this time.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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